William scarlett



UNITED STABS iur.

WILLIAM SCARLE'IT, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS.

BIER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, W'ILLIAM SOARLETT, of Aurora, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Biers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in Which-- Figure l, is a side elevation, the red lines showing the coiiin partly lowered. Fig. 2 is a plan view with the parts in position for use, and Fig. 3 is a vertical section showing the cotin in the bottom of the grave and released by the action of the mechanism.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

As burials are usually conducted much annoyance frequently occurs from the want of uniformity in lowering a coiiin into the grave, and the difficulty of removing the cords or straps by which it has been lowered, it often being necessary for some person to descend into the grave for that purpose.

My invention is designed to remedy this evil, and afford a ready means of lowering the coii'in by the operation of a single crank, in such a manner that all parts must move at equal velocities; and also to readily re move the supports by the same means.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to de scribe its construction and operation by the aid of the drawings and of the letters of reference marked thereon.

A is a frame work with handles, a, a, for convenience of carriage, and legs a o, upon which it stands. B, B are windlasses at each end of A. B has a crank, b, by which it may be turned, and a ratchet wheel WV, and pawl w for holding it from rotating when required. B is driven by means of cords L, L, from B, the cords winding off one and on the other in opposite directions, so as to give B a motion equal to but opposite from that of B. B may be driven by belts, gears, etc., in lieu of by the cords L, L', or by any other means which will insure its moving at the same velocity with B. Cords, C, C, are wound upon both B and B, as represented, in such a manner that when B is turned in one direction they are unwound from both, and in the opposite direction they are wound up on both, so that the middle points of the cords, C, O, are always at equal distances from B and B. These cords, C, O, pass over rollers, F, F, which are adjustable in the frame A so that their positions may be made to conform to the length of the grave I D, D, are two supports, extending between the longitudinal cords C, O, and adapted to slide thereon, for the double purpose of being adjusted to the different sizes of coiiins and of being slid out from underneath the latter, when it is properly deposited in the grave. Straps or cords E, E, extend from I), D, to windlasses B, B, and wind thereon in the same direction as the cords O, O, as shown in Fig. 1. These straps E, E, are shorter or make fewer turns around B, and B, than C, C, so that by a continued rotation of B, B, the cords or straps E, E, become unwound and commence to shorten by winding in the opposite direction before C, C, are fully unwound. This effect is shown in Fig. 3.

The operation of my improved bier is as follows: The rollers, F, F, are adjusted to the length and the cords C, C, to the width of the4 grave, and the crank b turned so as to tighten the cords C, C. The cross supports, D, D, are then adjusted so that the ends of the coiiin will rest thereon, and t-he whole is in the position shown by the dark lines in Fig. l. The coin M being placed in the position there shown, and the apparatus placed over the grave, the crank Z) is actun ated in the direction of the arrow. This operation turns B, and B and thus unwinds the cords, C, C, and the straps E, E, and lowers the coilin gradually -and evenly. then the coffin has arrived at the bottom of the grave, the rotation of crank B is not stopped but is continued until t-he straps, E, E, have wound in the opposite direction sufficiently to tighten them. In this condition a little further motion of Z) in the same direction withdraws the supports D, D, from underneath the coiiin, and as C, C, are not beneath the coifin at any period, but only extended along each side, it is now released. The motion of is neXt reversed, and the parts adjusted in position for the next sad duty.

It is not essential to the usefulness of my invention that the several parts shall be constructed and arranged in the precise manner herein shown, as many modifications thereof might be employed without altering the nature or efficiency thereof. For example, the withdrawal of the supports D, D, may be accomplished by means of a separate windlass and Crank, or by simply pulling upon the cords or straps, E, E, by hand, but the plan herein shown is simple and convenient and, I think, the best for the purose.

p Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In biers constructed with windlasses for lowering the coffin, the arrangement of the longitudinal cords C, C, and cross supports, D, D, adapted to slide thereon, substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein set forth.

2. So arranging the cords C, C, and straps, E, E, or their equivalents, upon the windlasses, B, B', that a continued r0- tation of the latter lowers the coin and then disengages the sliding supports, D, D, or their equivalents, therefrom, substantially in the manner above specified.

WILLIAM SCARLETT.

Witnesses:

JAMES S. BARR, SAM PARKER. 

